Although rickets is considered to have practically disappeared in developed countries, there is increasing evidence of widespread vitamin D deficiency among immi grants. Many studies report rickets and osteomalacia in Asian infants, adolescents and pregnant women moving to developed countries with a cooler climate. The etiopathogenesis of this disorder of calcium and D vitamin metabolism depend mainly on environmental and sociocultural factors, associated with low exposure to sunlight and low calcium intake, among other dietary factors. Given the recent increase in the number of immigrants to Spain, the prevention and treatment of this disease in Asian children and adolescents should be reviewed.

Rickets Vitamin D deficiency immigrants

calcium deficiency ultraviolet radiation vitamin D metabolism immigrant Asian pathogenesis vitamin blood level clinical feature human Ethnic Groups Vitamin D social aspect puberty Calcium rickets alkaline phosphatase Humans treatment indication Adolescent Spain female colecalciferol Review newborn osteomalacia cold climate pregnancy cultural factor calcium intake prevalence vitamin D deficiency evidence based medicine heredity vitamin supplementation developed country Emigration and Immigration disease association sunlight dietary intake